Teens cut class, steal bike, beat owner's husband

A North Fort Myers man was attacked after chasing down his wife's stolen bike.

Former bouncer Jeffery Romanoff is used to the scratches and bruises, but this crime was personal. Chasing down the teens was instinct, but no one knew how violent things would get.

His wife, Stephanie Romanoff was home Tuesday getting their son ready for school when her father, who lives across the street, ran to her door.

"He says, 'Three kids just came and stole your bike,'" Romanoff said.

It's not just any bike according to Romanoff.

"It's a mother's bike. There were three children's bikes right next to it. Like you know there's a family that lives here," Romanoff said.

On his way home, Jeffery saw the teens with the bike and confronted them, attempting to take photos of the teens in the act.

"Three against one in any kind of situation, isn't a good situation," Romanoff said.

Then came the call.

"What happened? I can't talk, they just tried to jump me. I'm trying to figure out where they went," Romanoff said.

The teens allegedly stole the bike from the carport in front of the home, while ditching classes at North Fort Myers High School.

He tracked down 15-year old Shanneil Welch, 16-year old, Frank Hudson and 17-year old Luis Castellanos.

"Had it been someone that wasn't my husband's stature, had it been me in that situation, I don't know what would have happened," Romanoff said.

Across the street from the high school, a stunned Edmond Picotte couldn't understand why the teens would go as far as to attack someone trying to get their property back.

"Kids want to impress other people and they do stupid things," Picotte said.

Interestingly enough, Picotte happens to collect the same type of vintage bikes. On high alert, Picotte said he takes protection into his own hands while patting his side to mimic concealing a gun.

"I don't put it on my forehead saying I have a gun, but I'm not a young fella anymore. So that makes up the difference," Picotte said.

Romanoff said she's okay with settling on getting the kids kicked out of school. The former NFMHS alum said it's time to hold these students accountable for their actions.

"That's the severity of the actions that they did themselves. Nobody told me to come here, steal and then try to attack somebody," Romanoff said.

The teens each will serve time in juvenile detention. Romanoff said she contacted the Lee County School District to see if the teens will be expelled from school, but has yet to hear a definitive answer.

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